RABBIT PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 4

RABBIT PROBLEM

MEANS OF COMBATING MENACE DIVERGENCE OF OPINION Some divergence of opinion was evident when means of dealing with the rabbit menace were discussed yesterday at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The lubject was introduced by a remit from the Lawrence branch which opposed the oompulsory formation of rabbit boards, Mid suggested that the authorities should fee recommended strictly to enforce the Rabbit Act and to appoint small local committees to act with the inspector in each district. _ ~ . Tire president (Mr D. H. Cockburn) occupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs A. C. Leary, J. F. Drake, R. S. Thompson, J. A. Johnston, E. B. Boyd, G. B. Crawford, J. S. Elliot, C. V. Dayus, W. Lee, D. Finlayson, A. C. Cameron, C. J. Inder. A. Orbell, D. Grant, R. McCaw, J. W. Wilson, and J. W. WoodMr McCaw, who formally moved the remit, said that personally he was opposed to it, but at a meeting of his branch he was the only one who had voted against It. Procedure Criticised Mr Thompson criticised the procedure adopted at the recent conference with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G. Barclay. He said it had never been the intention of the executive that a recommendation should go forward binding the farmers to a rate and to a levy upon stock, and he submitted that the question should have been discussed by the branches before the executive agreed to support the formation of contiguous rabbit boards and the impost of Id a head on stock. There was no rabbit problem in Lawrence, and so why should the farmers there be subject to a rate to enable the *' other fellow " to clear up his farm. “It is not fair,” he added, ” and we will not stand for it.” Mr Inder said that he was not opposed to the formation of a .rabbit board by any particular section in a district, but he objected to the compulsory formation of boards for the whole of the South Island. The conference with the Minister had been in effect a meeting of rabbit boards and not of farmers’ representatives. “ Why should people from Southland come up and dictate to us about the rabbit question? ’’ he asked. Mr Grant said that he was' opposed to any compulsory formation of rabbit boards. Such action would mean the end of the branch of the Farmers’ Union in Milton. His branch regretted the passing of a motion proposing a levy on sheep and cattle, as it questioned whether those responsible were representative of the great body of stock owners. . , Referred to Conference

■Hte president (Mr Cockburn) said that he was prepared to support the system for contiguous rabbit boards. When they were brought into being the landowners would have the right to appoint their own representatives, and in an area such as Milton the board might be a board only in name, and not find it necessary to strike a rate. He did not support the stock levy, however, because he regarded it as entirely unfair. Mr Leary then moved as an amendment that the whole question of compulsory contiguous rabbit boards be discussed at the forthcoming provincial conference and that consideration of the Lawrence remit be tdeferred until then. The motion was withdrawn in favour of Mr Leary’s proposal, which was adopted, and it was decided to advise all branches immediately.